COMMENTARY
“If the tables were turned, if Searcy’s opponent, Randy Heimler, had won the election and were now refusing to comply with state law and School Board policy on background checks and drug testing, the Press Journal would be all over the story.”
Reader Poll: Drug testing for School Board members
MARK SCHUMANN
Newly elected Indian River County School Board member Charles Searcy will soon become an employee of the District. As an employee, he will receive a salary and will be eligible for benefits. Yet, unlike all other School Board members, as well as employees, contractors and volunteers of the District, Searcy is refusing to submit to a background check and drug testing.
The School Board’s attorney has said Searcy can refuse fingerprinting, background tests and a drug test, so long as he is willing to be escorted when he is on any one of the District’s school campuses, including charter school campuses.
The Board attorney’s opinion is predictable, given that when Searcy is sworn in he will become one of her bosses. Because it would set an exceeding poor example for Indian River County’s school children to let Searcy thumb his nose at Florida law, the Board should seek the legal opinion from Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi.
At least according to Florida Statutes, the only way Searcy can be assigned an “escort,” is if an when he fails a drug test. So far, he has refused even to be tested.
News of Searcy arrogant refusal to submit to fingerprinting, a background check and a drug test has yet to be reported in the Press Journal newspaper, whose editorial board endorsed him in the recent election. The silence of the lambs on this story is yet another example of how the Press Journal is failing to fulfill its promise to offer readers what Press Journal editors themselves call “watchdog” journalism. If the tables were turned, if Searcy’s opponent, Randy Heimler had won the election and were now refusing to comply with state law and School Board policy on background checks and drug testing, the Press Journal would be all over the story.
Below are the relevant Florida Statutes with which Searcy is refusing to comply:
Indian River Guardian 
Seems to me that drug screening should be a condition of employment. Refusal of such screenings, as well as other assessments, should negate the employer/employee contract. Your suggestion to seek legal opinion makes sense.
Thank you for keeping on top of this relevant story.
This situation seems as though it is something out of a Carl Hiaasen novel. The characters in his works of fiction are so outlanish that you know that they are nothing more than the product of Carl Hiaasen’s vivid imagination. With each passing day though the Carl Hiaasen characters seems as though they are in reality Indian River power seekers.
There are some who would applaud Mr. Searcy’s refusal to submit to drug testing and fingerprinting. I do not. While it may appear at times that the collecting of any type of information is an infringement of our Constitutional right to privacy, it does not–in my opinion–apply here. We must attempt to protect our children; not doing so would be a heinous dereliction of our responsibility as adults.
If this guy was on the board of a charter school and took this stand, they would be trying to shut the charter school down! Get on with the business of education. Follow the law.
Bill Jones
Is Pam Bondi aware of this refusal?
My daughter recently opened A1A fingerprints in Vero Beach that has a mobile service. She will come to you and take your fingerprints in the privacy of your own office. It couldnt be easier. She is FBI authorized and tied directly to FDLE. I hope Mr Searcy calls her: 494-6556. In addition to those working with children and infirmed, now massage therapists must also have a lvel 2 screening. He needs to set a good example by complying with the law.
The reason the fingerprint law went into effect is because of the horrific murder of Jessica Lunsford. Her perpetrator was a school volunteer , became fixated on her then tortured and killed her. Had a criminal fingerprint check been ran, he would have never had access to the school. This sets a terrible precedent by the ‘new boss’ and diminishes the progress made in Florida to protect the most vulnerable children and elderly in our county. Extremely disappointed. Nothing to hide, then no worries!! Just do it.